Four months ago KTM released information on the 249.5cc M32 engine it has developed for the 2012 Moto3 championship. In that same release, the manufacturer also discussed its partnership with KALEX Engineering, who has already proven competitive in the Moto2 class, but no information on KTM’s race plans were made available at the time. The kinks have finally been worked out it seems, as KTM announced just this week its three-rider team for the 2012 season.
Red Bull will back the KTM...
Red Bull will back the KTM factory team heavily in 2012.
Sandro Cortese, who finished fourth overall in the 125cc class for 2011, will spearhead the team claims KTM. Cortese’s two wins in the 2011 GP season and four other podium finishes put him on the list of serious contenders for 2012. Also doing battle aboard the newly developed KTM Moto3 bike is Arthur Sissis and Danny Kent, both prior Red Bull MotoGP Rookies entrants.
" It’s yet to be determined how the Moto3 class will shape up, but with manufacturers like KTM putting in such an effort, it’s clear that the class will be a barnburner.
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The KTM M32 engine: far from...
The KTM M32 engine: far from a reworked motocross engine.
Bigger news is that while the three-rider team will run a 100-percent made and developed KTM bike, there is plans for customer teams to run a KALEX/KTM-developed bike. This parallel concept bike developed by chassis builder KALEX engineering will run a similar KTM single-cylinder engine. “Including the customer teams running the KALEX/KTM bike there will be nine KTM Moto3 riders on the grid of the competition,” says KTM’s latest release.
Not so surprising is that Red Bull will play a major role in the team’s 2012 plans, and will support the factory team heavily. Former racer and successful team owner Aki Ajo will manage the team.
More on the bike
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer and...
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer and Development Project Leader Kurt Trieb
KTM engineers have been hard at work developing the M32 engine for the Moto3 class. The 249.5cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine was designed strictly in accordance with Moto3 regulations, which limits bore to 81mm and maximum revs to 14,000 rpm. The engine isn’t a reworked motocross engine either, but rather a clean-sheet design. Stroke measures 48.5mm, dual-injector throttle bodies are used and a slipper clutch has been fitted. Housing the newly developed engine (for the factory bikes) is a frame that has been developed solely by KTM.
Despite the 2011 season just recently wrapping up, the 2012 season is rapidly approaching, with testing scheduled for the near future. It’s yet to be determined how the Moto3 class will shape up, but with manufacturers like KTM putting in such an effort, it’s clear that the class will be a barnburner.